Game table



Feb. 4, 19 36.

. J. K. MlTCHELL GAME TABLE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 17, 1954 INVENTOR KearsleyMficheH ATTORNEY Feb. 4, 1936. J. K. MITCHELL I GAME TABLE Filed Nov. 17. 1934 V 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN. mum T. .I m m K am ATTORNEY 1936 J. K. MITCHELL 3 GAME TABLE Filed MW. 17. 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR John Kearslay Mikhail @W amt ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 4, 1936 GAME TABLE John Kearsley Mitchell, Bryn Mawr, Pa. Application November 17, 1934, Serial No. 753,445 4 6 Claims. (Cl. 311-103) This invention relates to improvements in tables and more particularly to game tables having removable playing surfaces.

In the use of incidental mobilia such as game tables and the like it is often desirable to resurface tables with clean coverings. With the ordinary type game table, coverings are usually permanent and soon become soiled and unattractive. This particularly in view of the fact that when incidental tables having folding legs are nested or stacked away it is difiicult to keep them in an orderly clean condition.

This application is a continuation in part of my application Serial No. 671,609, filed May 18, 1933, for Game table, now U. S. Patent 2,003,- 834 of June 4, 1935.

It is a feature of novelty of the present invention to provide an improved incidental table having folding leg constructions in which a removable panel is provided and fitted with means whereby the surfacings of the table or playing surface may be readily removed and replaced and the whole securely set in position in the table frame and fixedly secured thereto forming an integral part of the table proper.

Another feature of novelty of the present invention is the provision of improved panel fastening means, including means for removably securing surfacing members such as silk, cotton,

' linen, and other fabric table covers and the like.

It is also a feature of novelty of the present invention to provide improved resilient surfacings associated with removable panel memberswhereby to provide an improved playing surface for tables.

Yet another feature of novelty of the present invention is the provision of an improved incidental table having folding legs in which the table frame, panel and leg constructions are so associated as to mutually support and lock each other in fixed operative relation.

Still another feature of novelty of the present invention is the feature of a drawer member supported by a removable panel and provided with a false frontadapting the drawer to be held in position and locked by a folded table leg.

These and other desirable features and advantages of the present invention will be described in the specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, certain preferred embodiments being shown by way of example only, for, sincethe underlying structural features may be incorporated in other specific table structures it not intended to be limited to the ones here shown except as such limitations are clearly imposed by the appended claims.

In the drawings like numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views, of which Fig. 1 is a top elevation of an improved incidental table showing the upper portions of the legs in operative position;

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the frame work 01' the structure shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 and showing the table paneling and associated table drawer and locking mechanism therefor;

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a detailed, partly broken section of the under side of the table panel showing a method of removably securing the panel surfacing in position;

Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. '7 is a detail of the drawer member and associated table members showing it in partly open position;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary detail, partly in broken section, of the forward part of a table drawer showing the improved locking channel;

Fig. 9 is a detail of a table leg and socket as associated with a table frame member;

Fig. 10 is a detail of a modified drawer with associated spring for securing a locking leg in position; and

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 10 showing locking leg in normal position and the panel surfacing locking ring removed from around the central panel.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the improvements of the present invention are best described with respect to an incidental table shown therein. This table comprises a frame portion designated generally by the numeral II], a central panel portion designated generally by the numeral 20, leg members designated generally by the numeral 30, and a drawer memher designated generally by the numeral 40. The

frame member It may comprise side apron members H, secured to panel strips l2, defining a central aperture adapted to receive the paneling, 25). The frame [0 may be braced at the corners by fiat or arched braces, l3, secured to the under sides of the members l2 in any suitable manner as by means of screws I4. The members It may be made of wood or metal and may be centrally tapped as indicated at IE to receive securing members such as bolts l6 provided with wing nuts H. The frame l0 may have ornamental corner pieces [8 of any suitable material and construction associated thereassociated hinge constructions have been shown and claimed in my copending application, Serial No. 727,870, filed May 28, 1934., for Folding leg constructions, now U. S. Patent 2,003,835 of June 4, 1935, and will not be described further herein except with respect to the general combinations Y of parts in which they are associated.

The paneling comprising a body portion 2| over which may be placed a sheet or surfacing 22 of a resilient material such .as sponge rubber, cotton, felt, and the like, which may be turned under the edges of the panel and held in gripping relation by the conjoint action or pressure of the inner edges of the table frame members l2 and the inner covering of the panel.

The loose ends may be secured to the panel in any suitable manner as by means of tenter hooks or pins 23 or clamping strips 24, the said strips being fixed in place by means of screws or like members 25, fastened to the member 2!. If desired, the clamping strips 24 may be provided with an internally toothed or gripping edged portion 26. A playing surface 27 of any suitable fabric may be stretched over the resilient surfacing and in turn brought under the edges of the panel andits loose or free ends secured in place by any suitable means such as thumb tacks or push pins 28. The paneling as noted above is adapted to snugly engage or nest in a shoulder or shelf 58 formed on the upper surface of member I2, and to thereby hold the V fabric member 21 tightly gripped. The bolt and in clamping the surfacings 22 and 21 firmly in position. With such construction it will be seen that the table frame and panel playing surface form a rigid immovable unit whose strength is appreciably increased by the mutual coaction of the several parts through the bracing and supporting members l3. In addition the folding leg members are also used in supporting the table structurally as the hinged members 35- being likewise fixedly secured to the corners of the table frame members aid further in maintaining a rigid assembly.

The novel table drawer and holding and looking means therefor will now be described.

This construction comprises a box-like arrangement having sides M and a bottom panel member 42, the sides being secured to the panel member 2! by any suitable means such as glue, indicated generally at 43. In place of glue the drawer supporting frame may be secured in position by screws or nails driven into the member 4| through the panel H. The drawer member proper, designated generally by the numeral 45, may comprise bottom panel 45, front, sides and back 46, a true front 47, a false front G8, and a bridging member or section 49, joining the true front and the false front. In addition a drawer pull 50 may be provided in the usual manner. The bridging or channel member 119 defines 21.

channel 5| between the true front .and the false" front which channel is adapted to receive a table leg 33. The forward surface of drawer front 41 may be provided with a leg-engaging button em, or a spring-gripping member Bib, adapted to grip leg 33 when folded in channel 5|. The member 49 and the false front 48 may be formed out of a single piece of metal or of the usual wood construction. However, a single piece metal construction is preferred as it gives a more rigid drawer member. It will be seen that when the drawer is in closed position and a table leg 33 is folded up into the channel 5! that the drawer is locked and cannot be pulled out of the pocket or sheath formed by the members 4| and 22. When the table is set up and the table legs 33 are set in operative position the drawer 40 may be moved in and out at will.

It will now be appreciated that there has been provided an improved incidental or game table having novel paneling adapted to be readily replaced, yet providing a fixed surfacing for a table top. In addition the novel table includes improved hinge constructions for the table legs whereby the latter are adapted to be folded up and under the aprons or side pieces of the table frame, one of the legs being adapted to serve as a locking member for a drawer supported from and adapted to receive securing members for r the panels, the bracing members being also adapted to brace and support the table frame members proper, whereby to integrally join the frame and panelling in a unitary table top construction. I

While certain novel features'of theinventlon have been disclosed and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A table of the type described having a framemeans for locking said drawer comprising a leg.

which has been moved-to its folded position within said space.

3. In a table of the type described in claim 1, means for locking said drawer comprising a leg which has been moved to its folded position within said space, and spring means adapted to retain a table leg in locked position.

l. In a table of the type described in claim 1, a drawer comprising walls and a bottom panel section, the said drawer having a true front wall and a false front wall spaced from the true front wall by an overhead continuous section forming a unitary construction with the said front walls, the said true and false front walls and intermediate bridging member forming a table legreceiving channel.

5. In a table of the type described in claim 1,

a sheet metal drawer comprising walls and a bottom channel section, a front wall continued bottom panel section, a front wall continued forwardly at its upper edge to form a bridging member and being bent downwardly at the end of the bridging member to form a false drawer front, the said false front including spaced panel 5 sections and stiffening beads.

JOHN KEARSLEY MITCHELL. 

